Manipur University impasse called off

The 85-day long agitation at Manipur University (MU) has been called off on Thursday by the protesters in the interest of students, Manipur University Students’ Union president M Dayaman Singh said.

The MU impasse had been caused due to the students’ demand for the removal of Vice-Chancellor AP Pandey and constitution of an Independent Enquiry Committee to look into the allegations of administrative and financial lapses made by the VC.

Singh said that the agitation was called off in the interest of students and particularly after the HRD ministry agreed to all the terms included in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on August 16.

The Manipur University Teachers’ Association (MUTA) and the Manipur University Students’ Union (MUSU) said it was for the authorities to decide when the classes would resume in the varsity.

The MOA was signed by the MUSA, MUTA the Manipur University Staffs’ Association (MUSA) and representatives of the HRD Ministry and the state government.

On August 21, the HRD Ministry through the Registrar in-charge M Shamkesho Singh had issued a press release, saying that the ministry had agreed to all the demands raised by the protesting bodies.

The MUSU President informed that as they have called off the protest, the university authorities can now initiate steps to hold MA exams and declare pending results of final year college students.

He, however, maintained that their demand for removal of Pandey remains and any effort to reinstate him will not be accepted.

The Manipur University Students’ Union had started the agitation on May 30 which had paralysed all academic activities in the Central varsity.